LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- FX has renewed its veteran drama "Rescue Me," this time for an expanded 22-episode fifth season.

"Me," like fellow mainstay "Nip/Tuck," is expected to split said order into two pods. Production then is set to begin in early 2008, pending a resolution to the expected WGA strike.

The show's fourth season averaged 2.8 million total viewers, including 1.9 million in the key adults 18-49 demo. FX executives however point to its strong cumulative average - 4.8 million total viewers, 3.2 million adults 18-49 - when its four weekly telecasts are combined.

Denis Leary, Peter Tolan and Jim Serpico are the executive producers of the series, which comes from Apostle, DreamWorks Television and Sony Pictures Television.